Dog Refuses To Leave Dying Elephant At A Sanctuary In Thailand

We all know that dogs are very sensitive to emotions and they just love to connect to the people around them. They understand emotions better than many humans and there is no doubt about it. That is also the main reason people love to have them as their pets. People also get very connected to their pets. Most of the times, their relations with the pets are very deep.

1Pancake has become an integral part of elephant sanctuary

Since the time a stray dog with the name Pancake was picked by Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary (BLES) three years back, he has become an integral part of the sanctuary in Thailand. “She was a stray on the beach who was picked on by other dogs,” Katherine Connor, founder and CEO of Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary (BLES), told.

2Pancake was picked three years back

A lady supporter of the sanctuary found Pancake for the first time. When she found him, she asked Connor if she would take the dog. “Of course I said yes!” Connor said. “Pancake has been my shadow ever since.”

3There is cordial atmosphere at the elephant sanctuary

The atmosphere at the elephant sanctuary is such that the people and animals living there are very much cognizant about all the arrivals and departures which happen there. The sanctuary also more inclined towards taking the old elephants who are no longer able to work.

4When Sao Noi was expiring, Boon Thong was seen standing around her

Around two years back, when an elephant with the name Sao Noi was expiring, her friend with the name of Boon Thong was seen standing just around her. She continued to provide solace to the friend with the strokes of her trunk. She was also seen crying as tears were constantly coming out of her eyes.

5After two years, Boon Thong’s health started deteriorating

Now, after two years, Boon Thong’s health started deteriorating. As her health was worsening day by day, she was also in need of some kind of support just like the way she extended her support to her friend Sao Noi. She also does not have death of support for her.

6Boon Thong has got support from Pancake

Now, Boon Thong has got support from Pancake. As Pancake realized that Boon Thong is struggling with her health, she rushed to the elephant. While Pancake is not an elephant, but she thoroughly seems to understand the peace and tranquility of the sanctuary which is also a common thing among animals who have been rescued by the Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary.

7Pancake and Connor spent a lot of time sitting with Boon Thong for many hours

While the health of Boon Thong continued to deteriorate, Pancake and Connor spent a lot of time sitting with Boon Thong for many hours all throughout the week. As they sat besides Boon Thong, they continued to reminisce the past time that they had spent with the elephant. They were doing one of the most difficult job of saying goodbye to the elephant.

8Boon Thong lived the last 5 years of her life at the sanctuary

Boon Thong was in her 60s. She had lived the last 5 years of her life in the sanctuary. Boon Thong was saved from a riding camp almost 5 years back. At riding camp, she was always forced to give rides to the tourists. “She was used to carry tourists on her back for hours on end and after doing this for almost 30 years, she nearly broke her back,” Connor explained.

9Boon Thong was able to roam freely at the sanctuary

The time that Boon Thong spent at the sanctuary was so different from the time she spent at the riding camp. She was able to freely roam and forage in the sanctuary.

10Connor writes, “She was free to be in control of her own life”

“She was free to be in control of her own life, to make her own decisions, to express herself,” Connor wrote in a tribute this week. “Boon Thong was a creature of habit. She had her favorite spots in our release areas that she would always gravitate to during our daily walks. She always scratched on the same tree and she always stopped at the same spot in the stream to throw mud all over herself.”

11Connor and Pancake sat around Boon Thong for nine hours as she passed away

Boon Thong was relishing her life at the sanctuary but time was not in her hands. She had to let her life go. Both Connor and Pancake sat around Boon Thong for nine hours as she passed away. “Pancake, with that beautiful heart of hers, did not leave Katherine or Boon Thong once,” BLES wrote on Facebook. “She knew she was needed, to offer support and she quietly lay beside Boon Thong, until sunset — until the final breath.”

12Boon Thong was also buried at the sanctuary grounds itself

Boon Thong was also buried at the sanctuary grounds itself. Her burial was surrounded with fruits and flowers. She was also buried where her friend Sao Noi was buried. The authorities made sure that she will always be surrounded by the individuals who loved her.